Corn-husker.



No. 878,365. PATENTED FEB. 4, 1908. J. W. ERTZ.

CORN HUSKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1906.

Jim WEIZZ,

I/VITNESSES: [NVE/VTOR.

A TTORNE Y5 JOE W. ERTZ, OF MAPLE RIVER JUNCTION, IOWA.

CORN-HUSKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1908.

Application filed May 28.1906. Serial No. 319.189.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Jon WV. ERTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Maple River Junction, in the county of Carroll and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Corn-Husker, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to corn huskers.

In devices of this character as usually constructed, it is customary to mount the husking hook upon a supporting plate which extends partly along the wrist and terminates in the central portion of the palm of the hand. The construction in these prior devices is such that one strap is passed around the wrist, and another strap is passed around the palm of the hand in front of the thumb. The objection to this usual arrangement of corn huskers is that it produces a stiffness between the wrist and the hand, so that it interferes with the free action of the operator; that is to say, by reason of the double attachment of the supporting plate to the hand and the wrist, it is difficult to flex or bend the hand with relation to the wrist.

The object of my present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of prior forms of corn huskers by providing simple and improved means for fastening them entirely to the wrist of the hand, above the base of the thumb, so that the rigid metallic supporting plate will not project within the boundaries of the palm of the hand. By means of my present construction, I not only provide an improved corn husker which will not interfere with the proper movements of the hand and wrist, but I also provide a thoroughly efficient brace for the wrist so as to prevent the same from easily becoming strained in the action of husking corn.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of thumb strap, as well as to increase the strength of the device by attaching the wrist straps directly to the supporting plate.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de scribed and claimed as a practical embodiment thereof.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the means for attaching the improved husker to the wrist above the base of the thumb. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the husker removed from the hand. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the forward edge of the attaching plate and pad. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the husking hook.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawing The reference numeral 1 indicates a pad which preferably is formed of leather and is rectangular in shape, the thickness of the pad 1 being such that it can be readily passed around the wrist of the hand above the base of the thumb without encroaching on the palm, and the length of said pad being, of course, sufficient to permit it extending entirely around the wrist. Mounted upon the pad 1 is an attaching plate 2 which is curved in the usual manner to conform to the shape of the wrist. The len 'th of the attaching plate 2 is slightly less than the width of the pad 1, so that said plate 2 will not project beyond the boundaries of the pad 1 and will consequently not extend within the boundaries of the palm of the hand. Adjacent to its forward end the attaching plate is formed with laterally extending wings 3. The extreme forward edge of the attaching plate 2 is flared or bent slightly outward as shown at 4 so as to avoid forming a sharp corner or edge which might come into contact with the hand during its various movements in shocking corn. When the pad and plate are arranged in proper position upon the wrist, the flared forward edge 4 of the plate 2 is located just above the base of the thumb, so that the hand can have great freedom of movement with respect to the wrist. The pad 1 and attaching plate 2 are preferably secured to the wrist by means of a plurality of straps 5 and 6. The rear strap 5 preferably extends between the narrow rear end of plate 2 and the pad 1, and suitable fastening devices, such for example, as rivets 7 extend through the plate 2, strap 5 and pad 1, so as to secure these elements firmly together. The forward strap 6 preferably is formed in two sections, the end of each of which sections is passed under one of the laterally extending wings 3 and is secured in position between said wings and the pad 1 by means of a rivet 7. At one end, each of the straps 5 and 6 is provided with a suitable fastening device, such, for example, as a buckle 8.

- Adjacent to the buckles 8, the straps 5 and 6 are securely fastened to the pad 1 by means such as rivets 9. The opposite free ends of the straps 5 and 6 are passed through suitable slotted portions of the ad 1 as indicated at 10 so as to retain tliem in proper relation to the pad as well as to prevent the pad from slipping from under the straps when they are engaged by the buckle.

Formed integral with the forward'edge of the pad 1, as indicated at 11, is a thumb strap 12 which extends forwardly around the thumb of the wearer and is then passed backward between the strap 6 and the pad 1,

after which it is engaged by a fastening device or buckle 13 which is secured in position by a rivet 14 extending through the buckle strap 15, strap 5 and pad 1.

The husking hook 16 which is preferably formed with the double prongs 17, is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the attaching plate 2 and rests at its forward end against the outwardly flared portion 4 of the attaching plate, the curve of which conforms to the curve of the adjacent portion of the hook. This construction enables the hook to be placed at the extreme forward edge of the attaching plate where it can be used most advantageously in shocking corn with out retarding the movements of the hand, as before explained.

The improved corn husker of this invention is strong, simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as thoroughly efficient in operation. As previously explained, by reason of the fact that it is secured entirely to the wrist and does not encroach upon the palm of the hand, the freedom of movement of the operator is greatly increased,

for which reason he is able to handle a larger quantity of corn than is possible when using a husking device which retards the free movement of the hand.

WVhat is claimed is 1. A corn husker comprising a pad provided with loops, wrist straps passed through the loops, one end of each of the straps being provided with a buckle, and one of the straps being provided intermediate of its ends with a buckle disposed approximately at right angles to its terminal buckle, a thumb strap forming an integral extension of the pad and being adapted to pass beneath one of the wrist straps and to engage the intermediate buckle of the other strap, a supporting plate secured to the pad and to the straps, and a pronged hook carried by the plate.

2. A corn husker comprising a pad provided with loops, wrist straps passed through the loops, one end of each of the straps being provided with a buckle, and one of the straps being provided intermediate of its ends with a buckle disposed approximately at right angles to its terminal buckle, a thumb strap forming an integral extension of the pad and being adapted to pass beneath one of the wrist straps and to engage the intermediate buckle of the other strap, a supporting plate secured to thepad and to the straps, and having its upper edge concaved, and a pronged hook carried by the plate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOE W. ERTZ. l/Vitnesses:

MATHIAs L. ERTZ, J. BEN BRUNING. 

